Cutting the Phone Cord
Isn't as Popular as Once Predicted

By

Christopher Rhoads Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Updated June 2, 2005 12:01 a.m. ET

Two years ago, when Frank Roberts moved into a new home in Somerville, Mass., he figured his family no longer would need a traditional fixed-line phone. He thought the cellphones he and his wife used all the time would be more than sufficient.

He guessed wrong. The couple, who have an 18-month-old son, quickly ran over their monthly allotment of cellphone minutes. Worse, their grandparents could never understand them when they called,...